Gen Z’s angst is dismantling the long-established happiness curve and confounding researchers

The curve of happiness has become a relatively unpredictable U-shaped for a long time: you are happiest when you are young, so happiness refuses midlife, only to rise again in old age. But the researchers have found that the curve is raging, as happiness has sank earlier in life than ever before.

The results come out of Studying a global studyA collaboration between researchers at Harvard and Baylor University who reviewed data collected by Gallup from more than 200,000 people in 22 countries. They have found that, on average, young adults 18 to 29 are dissatisfied, while interacting with bad mental and physical health, negatively understanding their own personality, finding life meaning, financial security, and the quality of their relationships.

Use The emerging harvard measure– A combined -with -life happiness and satisfaction, health and mental health, meaning and purpose, attributes and goodness, and close social relationships – students have determined how much each participant in their lives is. Now, they find, the developing curve is flat to the age of 50, when it begins to rise again.

Researchers have found this true in many countries, including the UK and Australi — but the well-being of the younger and older gap is the widest in the US

“This is a good picture,” Tyler J. Vanderweele, the top with the study and director of Harvard's Human Flourishing Programsaid to New York Times. “Are we just enough investment in the well -being of youth?”

Why is Gen Z not satisfied?

Recent research It is shown that life and happiness enjoyment continues to decline in young people in the last decade. In the US, the Survey of Dangerous Danger (YRBSS) has reported a dramatic increase in anxiety and sadness among American Gen Zers, especially young women. In 2023, 53% of high school students reported ongoing feelings of sadness or hopelessness, compared to 28% of boys.

“Young people do not do so as well as before,” the global developed students. “While the causes are likely to be diverse, mental health concerns in adolescents are clearly rising.”

A 2023 national Survey from Harvard It was also found that young adults (ages 18 to 25), suffered from higher rates of anxiety and sadness than younger teens. That study ends with the following reasons is to driving a decline in Gen Z's mental health:

• A lack of meaning and direction: The survey noted that more than half (58%) adult children reported that they lack the “meaning or purpose” in their life last month, with half reporting that their mental health was negatively influenced by “not knowing what to do in my life.”
• Financial Concerns: 56% of adults are concerned about their financial well-being.
• Pressure to achieve: Half of adult children have stated that success pressure negatively influences their mental health.
• Feeling that the world has fallen: 45% of adults have reported that a general “feeling that things have fallen” which has caused their denying their mental health.
• Sadness and separation of society: About half (44%) of adult children reported a feeling that was not important to others, while 34% reported that they were united.
• Social and Political Issues: Extensive issues such as climate change, gun violence in schools, and political leadership concerns are among the topics weighing Gen Z.

For more than happiness:

• Researchers have followed more than 700 people since 1938 to find the keys to happiness. Here's what they discovered
• Happier parents have tap into this 1 emotion
• Americans under 30 are so sad that the US just fell into a historic low rank in the annual report of happiness in the world

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com